10 Best Wineries and Experiences in Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza has over 1,200 wineries. That's not a typo. You could visit three a day for a year and still miss most of them. So which ones actually matter? I've narrowed it down to the 10 experiences that capture the full spectrum of Argentine wine culture — from world-class splurge to barely-spent-a-thing.
1. Zuccardi Valle de Uco — The World's Best Vineyard
Named the world's best vineyard multiple years running. The building alone justifies the drive — stone and concrete architecture that emerges from the Uco Valley landscape like a natural formation. The tasting ($30-80 depending on tier) happens in a room with floor-to-ceiling Andes views.
The wines are extraordinary. The single-vineyard Finca Piedra Infinita Malbec is one of Argentina's finest. The five-course pairing lunch ($80) is the single best food-and-wine experience in Mendoza.
90km south of the city. Book at least a week ahead. Don't go without a reservation.
2. Catena Zapata — The Cathedral
The Mayan-pyramid-meets-wine-temple building in Lujan de Cuyo is iconic. The tasting ($20-40) covers their range from the excellent entry-level Catena Malbec to the Adrianna Vineyard single-plot wines.
The reserve Malbec is consistently in every "best Argentine wines" list for a reason — dark, powerful, with a finish measured in minutes. Guided cellar tours available.
3. Maipu Bike & Wine Circuit — The Budget Winner
Rent a bike from Mr. Hugo or Bikes & Wines in Maipu ($8-12/day). Pedal flat roads between 4-6 bodegas. Tastings run $5-15 each. Stop at Pasrai for olive oil tasting ($8 — the extra virgin rivals Italian quality).
This is the most fun wine day in Mendoza. Not the most prestigious, not the most refined, but the most genuinely enjoyable. You cycle between vineyards in sunshine, taste affordable wine, and spend maybe $60 total for a full day.
Take bus 10 or a taxi ($5) from the city to Maipu. Don't overdo the tasting — you're cycling.
4. Salentein — The Art Gallery That Makes Wine
In the Uco Valley. The building is stunning — a cross-shaped cellar with a chapel-like aesthetic. But the surprise is the contemporary art gallery attached to the winery, with rotating exhibitions of Argentine artists.
Tasting: $15. The Primus Malbec is their flagship. The Killka art gallery is free with your tasting ticket. Allow 2-3 hours for wine + art.
5. Achaval-Ferrer — The Boutique Masterclass
A small producer in Lujan de Cuyo that focuses entirely on single-vineyard Malbec. $25 tasting. The winemaker or a senior staff member often conducts the tasting personally. The Finca Altamira is tight, structured, and among the best Malbecs in the region.
This is for wine enthusiasts who want depth over breadth. If you're doing one serious tasting in Lujan, make it this one.
6. Bodega Norton — The Free Tasting
Free tour and tasting. Free. The wines are solid entry-level Argentine Malbec. Norton's Reserva is consistently good value. The estate is large and photogenic with gardens and mountain views.
Perfect for budget travelers or as a warm-up before more premium visits. 20 minutes from the city center.
7. Closed-Door Asado Experience
Not a winery, but essential to the Mendoza experience. Book a closed-door dinner (cena a puertas cerradas) through Mendoza Wine Camp or Uncorking Argentina. A local chef cooks a multi-course asado in their home for 6-10 guests, paired with wines.
$40-70 per person including unlimited wine. The quality of both food and wine is astonishing at these prices. The social aspect — eating with strangers who become friends over grilled ribs — is uniquely Argentine.
8. 1884 by Francis Mallmann
Argentina's most famous chef. His restaurant at Bodega Escorihuela Gascon in Mendoza city does multi-course fire-cooked meals — meats slow-roasted over open flame, vegetables charred to perfection.
$60-90 per person. Reservations essential. The wine list is exceptional and surprisingly fairly priced. This is the splurge dinner of any Mendoza trip.
9. Parque General San Martin — The Free Morning
A 420-hectare urban park designed by Carlos Thays. Walk, jog, or cycle the 34km of paths. The Cerro de la Gloria monument at the summit offers panoramic Andes views. The rose garden has 60 varieties. Free entry. Sunday craft market near the gates.
Not wine-related, but the best hangover cure and the best free activity in the city. Every wine trip needs a morning off.
10. Aconcagua Viewpoint Drive
Drive Ruta 7 west toward the Chilean border. The road climbs through the Andes with increasingly dramatic scenery. The Horcones Lagoon viewpoint ($20 entry, 1.5-hour easy walk) puts you at the base of the Americas' highest peak.
180km from Mendoza, 3-hour drive each way. The landscape shifts from desert to high-altitude moonscape. Completely different from the vineyard experience — a reminder that Mendoza sits at the base of the biggest mountains in the Western Hemisphere.
Hydrate and ascend gradually. The viewpoint is at 2,700m+ and altitude headaches are common.
For a different Argentine landscape, Patagonia offers dramatic glaciers and mountain trekking at the opposite end of the country.
Pro Tips
Hire a remis (private car without meter) for wine days: $50-80 for a full day including waiting time. Hotels arrange them. Don't drink and drive between wineries.
Lunch is the main wine meal. Tastings and restaurant service run 11AM-4PM. Dinner doesn't start until 9-10PM.
Book premium wineries 48+ hours ahead. Walk-ins work at smaller bodegas but not at Zuccardi, Catena, or Salentein.
The blue dollar rate makes everything 30-100% cheaper for dollar-holding visitors. Use Western Union or pay in USD cash at accommodations for the best rates.
Bring an empty section of suitcase for wine bottles. Or ship through a wine logistics company — most premium wineries can arrange international shipping.
Mendoza wine country at these prices, with this quality, against the backdrop of the Andes — there's no equivalent anywhere else in the world. Most visitors combine Mendoza with Buenos Aires for steak and tango, or head south to Patagonia for glacier trekking.
